WILKES-BARRE – When two matches ran long Thursday, the first of two days in the District 2 girls tennis singles tournament, four players, their coaches, families and friends moved to the Wyoming Valley Indoor Tennis Club.
An interested observer joined them.
Wyoming Area’s Brianna Pizzano, who had already secured her spot in the semifinals, went to watch her potential Friday opponents.
Pizzano, who became the Warriors first district singles champion last year as a freshman, was not about to assume the title or titles to follow.
“I was watching the other matches,” Pizzano said after Friday’s 6-1, 6-1 championship round victory over Scranton Prep’s Gabriela Jakubek secured a successful title defense. “I was trying to see what their weaknesses were and their strengths.”
Although she won the title by taking 60 out of 65 games over 10 sets and five matches in two days, Pizzano never stopped looking or working for every edge she could get.
“I figured it would help me play better,” Pizzano said. “There are just so many good players that I couldn’t take it for granted.”
None of those players could match the Wyoming Area sophomore.
After losing just one game in three Thursday matches, Pizzano won Friday’s semifinal, 6-2, 6-0, over Wyoming Seminary’s Nicole Joanlanne, and carried that momentum right through the final.
“All of my shots were falling into place,” Pizzano said. “It’s probably the best I’ve played.”
Allison Lampman, Wyoming Area’s other entry, lost in the first round.
Pittston Area’s two entries in the District 2-4 Class 3A Subregional, played in conjunction with the 2A tournament at Kirby Park, each won preliminary round matches over Crestwood players before losing to high seeds.
Charity McLeod defeated Abby Bielecki, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, before losing to top-seed and eventual champion Stephanie Mazurek from Hazleton Area, 6-0, 6-0.
Abby Connors routed Rachel McFarland, 6-0, 6-0, but lost to third-seed and eventual semifinalist Lauren Carroll from Abington Heights, 6-1, 6-1.
Pizzano earned her second straight trip to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Championships, which will be played Nov. 3-4 at the Hershey Indoor Racquet Club.
“I think I’m just going to work on my serve because last year that was my weakness down there,” Pizzano said. “If I can improve that, I’ll have a better chance of winning some matches.”
Because she is already headed to the state tournament as a singles player, Pizzano is ineligible for the District 2 doubles tournament, which will be played Tuesday and Wednesday at Kirby Park. Tuesday’s action begins at 9 a.m. and plays until the four semifinalist teams have been determined. They report back Wednesday at 1 p.m.
